State-of-the-Art Image Guidance Technology

Interventional radiology at Cincinnati Children’s offers minimally invasive alternatives to some surgical procedures. The interventional radiologist uses image guidance such as ultrasound, fluoroscopy, MRI, and CT to perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Our staff is committed to being the leader in image-guided, minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic medicine. As evidence, we perform more than 3,500 cases annually.

Facilities and Equipment

Interventional radiology at Cincinnati Children’s is available at the Burnet Campus as part of the perioperative services, as well as within the operating rooms at Liberty campus. A hybrid operating room is also available at the Burnet campus integrating a full functional Interventional radiology suite and operating room. Our state-of-the-art equipment features Philips single and bi-plane interventional suites. This pediatric national show site offers:

• Dose-lowering technologies
• 3-D rotational angiography / XperCT and XperGuide
• Advanced digital imaging
• Full PACS integration
• Tilt-table

This technology enhances understanding of spatial orientation and 3-D anatomic relationships and optimizes our diagnostic and interventional capabilities.

The unique match of XperCT and 3-D-RA software means the existing 3-D image capability can integrate with CT images, giving not only images of the injected contrast within the vessels and major organs but also in the soft tissue. We can simultaneously acquire, integrate and superimpose CT, 3-D angiography and fluoroscopic imaging in a single room. This allows the unique opportunity to perform minimally invasive procedures that require both the real-time imaging capabilities of fluoroscopy and the 3-D soft tissue spatial orientation of CT. Clinical applications are endless. The XperCT reconstruction takes only three minutes from acquisition to display.

The hybrid operating room allows interventional radiologists and surgeons to work together in an operating room environment equipped with x-ray, CT, and ultrasound capabilities to make some surgeries safer and less invasive, which can decrease recovery time and improve outcomes. Together, the interventional radiologists and surgeons can combine their individual expertise and use these imaging technologies to help guide their procedures. This collaboration may improve how some surgeries are currently being performed, and hopefully result in the creation of entirely new types of procedures which have yet to be developed.

Vascular Access Team (VAT)

Our interventional radiologists work as part of a multidisciplinary group in the placement of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs). Our vascular access team (VAT) is nationally renowned for its approach and successful placement of pediatric PICCs.

Research

Interventional radiology is involved in research projects including:

• Bone biopsy
• Percutaneous bone grafting
• Vascular malformation
• GU interventions
• 3-D rotational fluoroscopy
• Live 3-D guidance in the interventional radiology suite